Joyce Smith, 94, of Johnston, previously Smithfield, died peacefully at Hope Hospice on Thursday, August 28th in the Hospice Intake Center in Providence.
Joyce was the companion of the late LCDR Walter H. Albert, USNR (Ret) for many years.
Joyce was a woman of great faith. She instilled the love of God into her eight children. She was a loving mother to her children and their spouses: Jody and Ronald Bush, Randy and James Peluso, Lynn and Edward Houle, Dale and John Pattie, Kenneth and Anna Smith, Brian Smith, Gregg and Michelle Smith, and Lissa Smith. She leaves behind 19 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her former husband, Dr. Kenneth L. Smith, DO.
She was a parishioner of St. Philip’s Parish for over sixty years. It was here that her compassion shone the brightest. As a member of the Bread Ministry, she and other parishioners prepared hot meals and bag lunches for the homeless. She was a Eucharistic minister, who delivered communion to the homebound and patients at Courtland Nursing Home. When needed, she also helped with their voting ballots. For years she worked at the Parish’s annual flea market to help raise funds.
At the age of 46, Joyce achieved her life’s goal of becoming a nurse, and went on to work as an LPN at Fatima Hospital.
She loved to travel. One of her dreams was to see the sites of Paris, especially Notre Dame Cathedral and Chartres. In 2001, she spent two weeks doing just that. At a later time, she spent a week in London.
She took numerous trips to Vero Beach, FL, Venice, FL, and Mesa, AZ, spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Even though we will miss her dearly, we can take comfort knowing that she believed that death was not the end, but only the beginning.
Go peacefully Mom. We love you.
Her funeral will be Saturday, September 7th at 9 am from the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Smithfield. Visitation Friday, September 6th from 5-7 pm. Burial will be in Acotes Hill Cemetery, Chepachet.